VW chairman justifies decision not to publish probe results

People stand at a Bugatti Chiron car during the annual shareholders meeting of the Volkswagen AG in Hannover, Germany, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

prev next

People stand at a Bentley Bentayga SUV car during the annual shareholders meeting of the Volkswagen AG in Hannover, Germany, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

From left, Frank Witter, CFO of the Volkswagen AG, Matthias Mueller, CEO of the Volkswagen AG, and Hans Dieter Poetsch, chairman of the board of directors of the Volkswagen AG, talk prior to the annual shareholders meeting in Hannover, Germany, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

FRANKFURT, Germany – Volkswagen's board chairman is justifying the decision not to publish the results of the investigation it commissioned into its scandal over cars rigged to cheat on diesel emissions tests.

Hans Dieter Poetsch told shareholders at the company's annual meeting Wednesday that it had given U.S. law firm Jones Day complete independence and that its findings were included in its guilty plea agreed with U.S. authorities.

Poetsch told shareholders "I know that some of you want still more transparency."

He said, however, that publishing results of the Jones Day probe would expose the company to "unacceptable legal risks."

In part, he said that is because the company has agreed not to make statements that might differ with facts stated in the plea. The company also faces legal proceedings in other countries.